Local Government Pay Offer

Today (August 10) UCATT has finally received a formal pay offer for 2007/8 from the local government employers organisation in response to the joint trade union side pay claim, made on March 23 on behalf of craftworkers, covered by the JNC “Red Book” Agreement.

The employers have made a pay offer of 2 per cent backdated to 1 April 2007.

The UCATT Executive Council will discuss the union’s response to the pay offer at its meeting later this month. Following the meeting further information regarding the offer will be published.

The full text of the letter sent by the assistant employers secretary is printed below.

CRAFT PAY NEGOTIATIONS 2007

I am writing regarding this year’s pay negotiations. A claim was submitted on behalf of the Trade Union Side of the JNC on 23 March seeking a pay increase of 5% or £1,000 pa (whichever is the greater). The claim also seeks further discussions on, and improvements in, a number of pay and conditions service items related specifically to craft workers.

The Employers’ position in all of the national negotiations in local government this year has been influenced by local authorities’ level of affordability. With that in mind the Employers are prepared to offer an increase of 2% with effect from 1 April 2007 on all pay rates and pay-related allowances for craftworkers. The Employers would also be content to increase tools allowances by the annual growth in the cost of tools to March 2007. I am sure we can find an agreed methodology to calculate this. 

As far as the other elements of your claim are concerned, the Employers remain committed to the development of new pay systems at local level that comply with the principles of legislation on equal pay. We have recently undertaken a survey of local authorities on a number of employment issues related to craft workers. This shows the continued development at local level of all-inclusive salary structures, a subject we have discussed on a number of occasions in Joint Secretaries’ meetings in the last few years.

To that end we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the development of craft pay systems with you as part of the negotiations ahead of the 2008 pay settlement. We would suggest the establishment of a small JNC working group to take this forward. The terms of reference would be a matter for agreement but we would envisage the working group’s discussions encompassing a number of the craft-related issues covered by your claim.

I hope that we can move quickly to a settlement of your 2007 claim and then start the discussions we have suggested ahead of the 2008 negotiations.